Two more teams have advanced in Maryland’s 2011 US Open Cup qualifying tournament. One has already reached the championship game, while Inter AFC, due to weather delays, just finished its first match of the competition. The Maryland Bays are waiting in the championship game after defeating Christos FC, 2-1, on Sunday, February 27. That same night, Inter AFC won a strange barnburner wbith the Magicmen, 7-3, to move on to the quarterfinals. However, Inter’s run was short-lived as Charm City FC knocked them out, 6-0, to advance to the semifinals.
The Bays will await the winner of Charm City FC and the Baltimore Kickers (Mar. 13) in the title game on Mar. 20.
INTER AFC 7:3 MAGICMEN (FIRST ROUND) – Feb. 27
The 6 p.m. game started out with all the ingredients for a disaster as Inter AFC and Magicmen both started the game shorthanded. Inter began with eight players and Magicmen was without their starting goalkeeper, leaving them with only 10 because additional players were also late getting to the field. Magicmen, with the two-man advantage, scored a pair of goals by Chad Meusel (5th minute) and Powell Cuchiella (15th minute) in the opening 15 minutes. The calvary arrived for both sides as Inter forwards Brian and Mike Walter, midfielder George Phillips and Magicmen goalkeeper Ben Snyder eventually arrived. All were rushed onto the field to bring the match up to full strength.
The arrival of the three missing players for Inter turned the game on its head, and Brian Walter was the catalyst. Walter made an immediate impact by taking a shot in the 18th minute that fooled the newly-inserted Snyder to cut the lead in half. Ten minutes later Walter would help level the match, assisting on a goal by Saheed Lawal. He then dished out Lawal’s go-ahead goal three minutes after that. Walter would put Inter up 4-2 at the 35 minute mark with an unassisted goal, giving him two goals and two assists in less than 20 minutes of work as his club took that lead into the halftime break.
Brian Walter’s brother, Mike, got into the act just after halftime, making it 5-2 on an assist by Lawal in the 49th minute. In the 65th, Lawal would complete his hat trick on an assist by Brian Walter to put the game out of reach at 6-2.
However, Magicmen would pull one back in the 80th minute courtesy of Andre Henciak. Brian Walter would answer back with his third goal of the game five minutes later on an assist by Lawal.
Brian Walter and Saheed Lawal carried the game with Walter finishing with three goals and three assists, while Lawal had three goals and two assists.
Magicmen coach Bryan Cartwright said after the game, “We had taken them very lightly thinking it would be 2 or 3 to nil in our favor the way the game started out for us.”
Magicmen Lineup (4-3-2): Chris Quigley (GK), Raymond Sturm (CB), Bernie Cruey (CB), Justin McGrath (LB), Mike Devine (RB), Chad Meusel (CM), Michael Alessi (RM), Andrew Henciak (LM), Powell Cucciella (LF), Eric Belcher (RF)
Inter AFC Lineup (Incomplete): Brian Walter, Saheed Lawal, Mike Walter, George Phillips
Scoring Summary:
Magicmen – 5th minute – Chad Meusel (Unassisted)
Magicmen – 15th minute – Powell Cucciella (Unassisted)
Inter AFC – 18th minute – Brian Walter (Unassisted)
Inter AFC – 28th minute – Saheed Lawal (Brian Walter)
Inter AFC – 31st minute – Saheed Lawal (Brian Walter)
Inter AFC – 35th minute – Brian Walter (Unassisted)
Inter AFC – 49th minute – Mike Walter (Saheed Lawal)
Inter AFC – 65th minute – Saheed Lawal (Brian Walter)
Magicmen – 80th minute – Andre Henciak (Unassisted)
Inter AFC – 85th minute – Brian Walter (Saheed Lawal)
MARYLAND BAYS 2:1 CHRISTOS FC (SEMIFINAL) – Feb. 27
The 8 p.m. game saw the Maryland Bays line up against Christos FC, who had knocked out USASA Open Cup regular and two-time US Open Cup participant Aegean Hawks FC two weeks ago.
It didn’t take long for Christos to open the scoring though as Danny Skelton scored in the 18th minute off a Joe DiPino pass after a nice build up. Minutes later, the score nearly doubled as the Bays conceded a penalty, but Michael Pennacchia put his penalty over the bar.
Maryland manager Bryan Bugarin would later say, “ was our wake up call.”
Indeed it was, as the Bays equalized just 13 minutes later when Jon Ports fed Marco Mangione in the 31st minute. The tie held until late in the second half as Mangione was fouled going to goal and converted his penalty kick in the 75th minute to make it 2-1 Bays.
Several cautions and an ejection (Christos FC defender Eric Mahon) followed as tempers flared on both sides, but the score would remain at 2-1 until the final whistle. With the win, the Maryland Bays advanced to the championship game which will be held on Sunday, March 20 at Cedar Lane Regional Park in Harford, Md.
“As a player, coach, or spectator you couldn’t have asked for a more evenly, quality played match,” said Michael Pennacchia of Christos FC after the match. “There was excellent skill, team defending, and overall heart on display with exceptional goals in the run of play from both sides. In the end, the difference ended up being that Marco was able to convert his penalty attempt where I was not. My hat goes off to Coach Bugarin and the Bays.”
Pennacchia added, “ are a quality group of players and assuming they advance, they will certainly represent the state of Maryland well in regional play.”
Christos FC Lineup: Steve King (GK), Eric Mahon, Joe Dipino (C Wilson-35′), Bissohong, V. Dipino, Muntz (Fendryk-80′), Michael Pennacchia (Tejada-75′), Leitch, Tyrie (Dwonzkowski-70′), Ankrah, Danny Skelton (Piscopo-65′)
Maryland Bays Lineup: Kristopher Ward (GK), Matty Beckman (BJ Quigley), Josh Taylor, Matt Shell, Phil Greatwich (Nino Mangione), Bryan Moffa, Chris Ports, Brian Barry (Mike Gill), Timmy Lane (Lucas Emil), Marco Mangione, Jon Ports
Scoring Summary:
Christos FC – 18th minute – Danny Skelton (Joe Dipino)
Maryland – 31st minute – Marco Mangione (Jon Ports)
Maryland – 75th minute – Marco Mangione (PK)
CHARM CITY FC 6:0 INTER AFC (QUARTERFINALS) – Mar. 6
On Sunday, the quarterfinals would finally wrap up with Charm City FC moving on with ease, 6-0, over a shorthanded Inter AFC. No calvary arrived this time for Inter AFC as the club played the match with nine men and were overwhelmed in the pouring rain.
The trio of Saheed Lawal and the Walter brothers, who all combined for seven goals and five assists in their 7-3 win over Magicmen in the opening round, were not at the game as Inter’s offense stuggled playing two men short.
Charm City didn’t waste any time with Lucas Pardew scoring the first goal three minutes into the match. In the 18th minute, Josh Robinson would set up Dan Ladar for the second goal. Just before halftime, the floodgates would open as Tarik Walker scored a pair of goals in the final five minutes of the half and Ken Suter would make it 5-0 just after the halftime break. Dan Delaney would score the sixth and final goal in the 53rd minute.
Charm City advanced to the semifinals where they will face the Baltimore Kickers, who beat AC Baltimore 1-0 in their first game. Charm City is aiming to qualify for the Region I tournament for the second year in a row. Last year, after getting an opening round bye when Athletic Club (West PA) forfeited, Charm City lost to United German Hungarians (East PA) in the quarterfinals, 3-1.
Scoring Summary:
Charm City – 3rd minute – Lucas Pardew (Unassisted)
Charm City – 18th minute – Dan Ladar (Josh Robinson)
Charm City – 40th minute – Tarik Walker (Unassisted)
Charm City – 43rd minute – Tarik Walker (Lucas Pardew)
Charm City – 46th minute – Ken Suter (Eric Breach)
Charm City – 53rd minute – Dan Delaney (Unassisted)
Chris Holden also contributed to this report